Ventilated awnings



May 7, 1957 D. L. SCHURGER VENTILATED AWNINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 9, 1953 INVENTOR David L. Schurger ATTORNEYS May 7, 1957 D.SCHURGER VENTILATED AWNINGS 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1953INVENTOR Dav/a L. Sc/wrger ATTORNEYS I United States Patent VENTILATEDAWNINGS" David L. Schurger,:Dallas County, Tex.

Application November 9, 1953,,SeflalNb. 390,992

2 Claims. (Cl.'20'57;5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ventilatedawnings.

'One object of the invention is to provide an improved ventilated awninghaving spaced louvers formed free from sharply bent marginal portionswhich,.while lending themselves to sheet metal structure, are especiallyadapted to be constructed of suitable plastic material.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved ventilatedawning having upright frame members adapted. to be attached ,to abuilding at a window or door opening and including an inclinedsupporting member having integral brackets struck therefrom and bent atdifierent elevations to support louvers in spaced, ventilating relation,whereby a more stable and less expensive awningis produced. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ventilatedawning having. a plurality of transverse overlapping louvers of suchconstruction and so mountedthat the same may be formed of suitableplastic material, whereby the appearance and translucence of the awningare enhanced without detracting'from its durability, rigidity andlight-weightness,

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedventilated awning having transverse louvers and'upright supporting framemembers carrying brackets of varying elevations adapted to rigidly holdthe louvers in spaced, ventilating order and permitting the erection ofa relatively flat canopy or roof, when desired, with adequate drainage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved awningincluding transverse louvers having contiguous edge portions formed tooverlap and shaped so that the longitudinal edge of the underlyinglouverhas an upstanding hump and the overlying longitudinal edge of theadjacent louver has a flange overhanging the hump so as to deflect andprevent a direct passage of air between each hump and flange whileallowing an undulating flow of air between the louvers.

A further object of the invention is to. provide an .improved awningwhich has transverse, spacedv individual louvers mounted on end supportsin such a manner as to 1 permit an adequate flow'of. air between theendsand longitudinal edges of the louvers.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed,- together with other features of the invention;

The invention will be more readily understood from a readingof thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein examples of the 2,791,010 Patented May 7,; 1957 In the drawings,the numeral 10 designates an upright rarne member for an awning,generally, of a triangular shape and, preferably of metal or othersuitable material. In constructing an awning, upright frame members: areprovided at its ends and, depending uponthe width and/or length of theawning, one or more intermediate frame members may be employed. Eachframe memher is substantially identical and triangular, but is subjectto variation in shape as well as in height, width and/or length andoutward extension or transverse projection.

'Each frame member 10 includes, an upright, inner supporting or mountingelement 11, an outwardly extending or transverse base or strut element12 and an inclined supporting or carryingelem'ent 13 extendingdownwardly from the upper portion of the element 11 to the outer end ofthe strut element 12. Each supporting element 13ma'y include one or morebreaks so that it has two or more inclinations although it can be madewithout a break. The elements 11 and. 12 are preferably formed of angleirons connected at their lower and inner ends by a screw orotherfast'ening I4 and disposed at a right angle'to each other.Preferably, the supporting element 13 is formed of an inverted channelhaving its upper end secured in the upper end of the angle iron 11 andheld by a bolt or other fastener 15, while its lower end is fitted inthe outer end of the angle iron 12 and secured by a bolt or otherfastener 16, as is best shown in Fig. 5. F or connecting the framemember 10, a horizontal brace or tie member 17, in the form of aninverted angle iron, is attached to the lower end of each channel 13 bya bolt or other fastener 18. The elements 10 to 18, inclusive,constitute an awning frame.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a casement type of awning is shown. Each channel 13has its flanges 19 cut out so that it may be bent at 20 to form agambrel-t'ype of support with an upper section 21 of low pitch or slightupward inclination and a lower or front section 22 of much greater pitchor downward and outer inclination. A roof or front panel 23 is formed ofoverlapping transverse, elongate louvers or slots 24. Each louver is ofsubstantially the same size and shape and is disposed in underlappingand overlapping, spaced relation to adjacent louvers, above and below.It is desirable to form each louver 24 of plastic material, but othermaterials, such as metal may be used. The advantages of plasticmaterial, such as polyester resins reinforced with glass fiber mats, aremany and among such advantages are that, being colorful in varioustranslucent tints, cool and non-glare illumination is admitted to a roomand presents an attractive exterior appearance as well as forming abarrier to a large percentage of the suns' heat rays. The louvers, beingmounted in overlapping and spaced relation, permit a passage of airtherebetween and assure adequate ventilation. Louvers of such materialare not subject to ordinary breakage and are not injured by acids,grease, cigarettes, fire sparks, hail and rust.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 8, each louver 24 has. a general arcuate,transverse contour and is bowed or curved outwardly or upwardly at itslongitudinal medial portion 25 upon a relatively large radius with itslower margin terminating in a downwardly-curved lip 01' flange 26. Anupstanding, substantially semi-circular bead or hump 27 is formed on theupper margin of the louver by reversely curving said margin upwardly andthen downwardly upon itself. Intermediate its curvature 25 and head 27,the upper portion of the louver is relatively flat as shown by thenumeral 28. As will be apparent, the lip 26 is adapted to overlie'thebead 27 of the adjacent louver in spaced relationship. For mounting theeach other with the cutouts 32 and 33 between each pair of brackets.Openings 36 and 37 are formed in the bracket flanges for'receivingsuitable screws or other fasteners 38. While the outer or lower bracket30 of each pair is relatively tall and almost right angular and has itsflange 34 nearly parallel to the channel web 29 for mating withthecurved portion 25 of the louver, the

inner or upper bracket 31 is relatively short and has its flange 35'extending at an obtuse angle to said web for conforming to therelatively flat portion 28 of said louver.

Manifestly, the louvers 24 seat upon the flanges and are secured theretoby the screws 38 engaging in the openings 36 and 37. It is noted thateach louver is supported with its upper substantially flat portion 28bearing against the webs 29 of the channels 13, whereby its head 27underlies and is spaced from the overhanging lip 26 of the adjacenthigher louver. The spacing between the louvers provides air openingswhich extend transversely across the panel 23 and afford adequateventilation. The overhang of each lip 26 with respect to the upstandinghead 27 thereunder provides suificient protection against jthe passageof wind-blown rain and other moisture.

Although the frame members and roof or front panels are subject tovariation, the construction and mounting of the louvers 24 remainsvirtually unchanged. While the frame member 10 is for a casement-typeawning, modified frame members 39, 40, and 41 may be provided for acanopy (Figs. 4 and a door hood (Fig. 6) and a conventional awning (Fig.7). Insteadof or in addition to the break 20 and upper section 21 of thesupporting element 13, the frame members 39 and 40 have breaks 42 and 43adjacent the outer ends of theircorresponding elements to provide lowersections 44 and 45 which are abruptly inclined. Asshown, the mainportions of these members have appreciably less inclination of pitchthan the element 13 and the upper section 21 preferably is omitted. Theframe member 41 has a similar break 46 and an upright lower section 47(Fig. 7). Since the other elements of the frame members are identical,except for inclination, the same numerals are employed.

In each instance, the louvers 24 are mounted on the to the outer end ofthe frame member 39 at the lower end of its section 44 (Fig. 4) or atransverse support, in the form of an inverted channel 49may be suitablyattached to said member immediately above its break 42.

j Asshown in Fig. 5, one or more upright posts or standards 50 may beengaged in and fastened to the channel 49.

End or side panels for the awnings may assume various forms or may beomitted entirely, as in the case of canopy for a patio or a carport. InFigs. 1, 2 and 7, the side panels are formed of louvers 51 and 52conforming to their respective frame members and 41 and similar to thelouvers 24. If desired, side panels, 53, of expanded metal or otherforaminous material, may be used as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Forfastening the louvers and 51 to the frame members, bolts 54 are providedand spacers 55 are carried by the lower bolts of said louvers to spacethe lips 26 at their lower margins from the underlying upper edgeportions of adjacent louvers. The panels 53 may be fastened directly tothe outer surfaces of the end frame members by suitable bolts 56.

The awnings are easily installed and removed, and, because of theelongated, transverse openings between the louvers, suliicient passageof air for ventilation is provided. By use of plastic material, thesurfaces of the awnings are relatively smooth and offer littleobstruction for the collection of dirt and soot. The structuralarrangement while simple is sturdy and offers an advance in the art. Itwill be observed that, due to the curvature and stepped mounting of thelouvers, a roof of low pitch may be constructed and rain and snow Wateradequately drained. While the spacing between each lip 26 and head 27 isample to provide adequate ventilation, it is nevertheless restricted andthere isno direct passage between the louvers. The brackets 30 and 31,being of rel? 'atively thin metal and being spaced apart, offer littleresistance to the passage of air between the channels and louvers andair currents may flow in from the ends as well as from the front of theawning.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended 1 claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What 'I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A rigidawning including frame members each hav- 'ing an inclined invertedchannel support, angular brackets bent outwardly from the upper surfaceof the channel support, the brackets being disposed in pairs, andelongate louvers bowed outwardly transversely and each having adown-turned flange on one longitudinal edge and an ,upstanding hump onits opposite longitudinal edge, the brackets of each pair being spacedapart and one bracket being of less outward projection than the otherbracket, the bowed portion of one of the louvers overlying and beingfastened to each pair of brackets inwardly of its flange and hump andspaced from the channel support according to the projection of eachbracket, whereby said louvers are held with theirhumps underlying andspaced from the flanges of the adjacent louvers.

2."A rigid awning including inclined frame members having upperlongitudinal surfaces, angular brackets integral with and extendingoutwardly from the upper longitudinal surfaces of the frame members anddisposed in coacting pairs, the brackets of each pair being of unequalheights, and an elongate louver overlying and rigidly secured on eachpair of brackets and disposed at a transverse inclination to saidlongitudinal surfaces, the longitudinal edge portions of each louverbeing spaced from the brackets and from the longitudinal edge portionsof adjacent louvers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

